Pay proposals for public sector could face revolt

Industrial relations in the public sector will be “tested” by low pay rises next year compared to the private sector, pay experts have warned.

Income Data Services said expected pay rises next year of 2-2.5% in the public sector, based on the government’s inflation target, would fall short of expected rises in the private sector of 3-4.5%.

It also said that curbing pay in the public sector would widen the gender pay divide, given the fact women make up over 70% of teachers, local government workers and NHS staff.

Source:- Financial Times Monday 15 October 2007 page 3

Public health cuts attacked

The number of public health staff has fallen by 57% under Labour, the Conservative Party has claimed.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the cut in non-consultant public health staff, from 3,167 in 1997 to 1,362 in 2006, was “unforgivable and misguided” given rates of obesity, sexually transmitted infections and substance misuse.

The number of alcohol-related emergency hospital admissions has risen sharply over the past five years, figures to be published this week will show.

The statistics, drawn from the NHS hospital episodes survey, will show the number of men admitted rose from 714 per 100,000 in 2001-2 to 909 in 2005-6, while the number of women rose by 396 to 510 per 100,000.

A five-judge panel in the court of appeal is to be asked to decide whether a man who admitted 20 charges of making and possessing indecent pictures of children should have his identity protected to save his daugthers from being bullied at school.

The man was sentenced to a community order, three years’ supervision and a requirement to attend a sex offenders’ programme after pleading guilty to the offences, but a judge ordered an anonymity order to protect his daughters.

About 100 children a month are being rescued from physical and sexual abuse after contacting specialist police officers online. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) receives dozens of emails a day from children who have fears about someone they have spoken to online and worries about images that they have seen.

Source:- The Times Monday 15 October 2007 page 9

Scottish news

Social Worker Fired Over Email ‘Slurs’

A social work official has been fired for sending an email to councillors and MSPs accusing colleagues of fraud, racism and sex scandals.

Carrie Annabi was sacked after sending the email to every South Ayrshire councillor as well as politicians across the south of Scotland.

The 91-page message sent in June accused 22 different council officers of offences.

£3, 000 “golden hellos” and student loan pay-offs are being offered by councils in Wales in order to try and plug the shortage of social workers in Wales. Other measures being used by councils include taking employees from America and New Zealand.

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